Living in the city is very expensive, so sometimes it seems impossible to save money. As someone who lives in the capital, I’ve experienced this first hand! Today’s guest blog post is by @YourWealthVoyage who shares how she enjoys city living without breaking the bank.
How To Enjoy City Life On A Budget
I’ve lived in Central London for over 5 years and one thing that never ceases to amaze me is just how expensive EVERYTHING is. It feels like just leaving the house costs you £20 sometimes (think all of the essentials like tube fare, oat flat whites, a vegan brownie from a farmers market you impulsively buy despite not even being vegan). However, my time as a Londoner has taught me a few tips and tricks on how to spend less whilst not compromising on enjoying city life.
Food
If, like me, you’re never happier than when a waiter puts a hot steaming plate of goodness in front of you- listen up! Restaurants are amazing places (they really are) but going too often really adds up. By the time you’ve chosen your meal, opted for a beverage and added on your service charge – the cost of your dining experience can be huge. My number one tip for eating out on a budget in a city is to locate street food markets. They are plentiful in many cities, offer restaurant quality food and you pay only a fraction of the price. Bonus tip- go with friends and get a dish each and share all of the goodness between you.
Alcoholic Drinks
As someone who has paid £14 for a gin and tonic before, this one cuts pretty deep. Whilst typically lasting us only 30 minutes, how can these thirst quenchers be so costly! My top tip for those that like an alcoholic drink involving a spirit (gin & tonic, rum & coke etc etc) is to clarify whether you want a single or double shot of alcohol. Many a time have I gone to the bar wanting a single gin and tonic but forgotten to explicitly say I would only like a single shot of alcohol. The default for many bars is a double shot which is what they will give you (and what you will pay for!) if you don’t specify. Don’t be like me – make it clear what you want!
Public Transport
In many cities there tends to be a mode of public transport that everyone assumes is the best way of getting everywhere. My recommendation to you is to download CityMapper – an app that works like Google Maps in telling you how to get from A to B and covers most European cities. It offers you a range of transport options for each journey and clearly displays the cost of each option. Now, you may not want to get a 50 minute bus for a journey that would take 15 minutes on the train, but if the bus is £12 cheaper than the train- it may give you something to think about!
Staying Active
I know people that spend £100’s a month on gym memberships. If, like me, staying active is important but not something you want to invest significant portions of your income on, then hear me out. If you enjoy running, consider taking part in your local parkrun event- a completely free 5km run held every weekend with volunteers and many other runners who turn a 5km into a really fun event. Similarly, many local councils run free fitness classes in local parks- hit up google to see what you can find in your city! And finally, if you’re a gym babe at heart- look into council run gyms for discounted membership fees on gyms that often have modern state of the art equipment.
Let's stay in Touch!
Hopefully these tips will help you to continue enjoying city living without breaking the bank. Join me on instagram where I talk about budgeting, investing and building financial freedom.
Yours @YourWealthVoyage